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The Boy Scout Rank Requirements are changing January 1, 2016. Some highlights of the changes:

Scout becomes a rank – memorization of the Oath, Law and Outdoor code is required.

Service is now required for each rank: one hour for Tenderfoot, two hours more for Second Class and three more for First class. Half of the six service hours for each of Star and Life must be conservation-related.

Physical fitness requirements are included in all ranks from Tenderfoot through First Class.

The number of campouts required has increased: one for Tenderfoot, two more for Second Class and three more for First Class.

Some of the navigation requirements allow the option of using a GPS device.

Boys joining boy scouts on or after January 1, 2016 must use the new requirements.

For scouts joining prior to January 1, 2016:

If working on the scout badge, may continue to use the old requirements (or switch to the new requirements,) but they must use the new requirements for subsequent badges.

If working on Tenderfoot through First Class, may use the old requirements, but must switch to the new requirements upon obtaining First Class

If First Class has been completed, may complete the rank they are working on using the old requirements, but must switch to the new requirements for subsequent ranks.

Beginning January 1, 2017, all scouts must use the new requirements, regardless of rank.

The 2016 Boy Scout Requirements book and 2016 Boy Scout Handbook will be officially released in January, when the new requirements take effect.

The BSA is beginning to publish interactive digital versions of its merit badge pamphlets. The digital versions contain additional graphics, videos, animations, simulations and slide shows, all for the same price as the regular pamphlets. Currently there are 8 digital merit badge pamphlets available from scoutstuff.org (click on Literature->Interactive Digital.) The Inkling app and an Inkling account is required to view the digital pamphlets. For more information, see: http://www.scoutstuff.org/retail/faqs/idmbp-faq .

2015 NESA SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS

NEW SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINE EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY

Due to the overwhelming number of applications we received in 2014, the NESA scholarship committee has voted to move the NESA scholarship window up two months. The new deadline for submissions is October 31, 2015. Applications will go online during the first week of August and applicants will have three months to fill out and submit their application by October 31, 2015.

All NESA scholarship applications must be submitted online only. Paper copies from previous years are out of date and will not be accepted.